West Ham faced a team billed as an FA Amateur International XI. This time a stronger West Ham XI won the Upton Park match 6-1. The 9,000 attendance was the largest of the four matches against top amateur opposition. According to the Stratford Express match report (September 30, 1955) “The England Amateur XI, after a promising first half, were completely run off their feet by West Ham, who cracked home six goals and could have added to their score.” Despite being routed, the England team took the lead after 17 minutes before West Ham led 2-1 at half time. A West Ham forward, Ken Tucker, scored a hat trick. The other three goals were scored by W.Lawrence, the Barnet amateur who made a guest appearance for the Hammers, Harry Hooper and John Dick.

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West Ham United v. Great Britain Olympic Teams ...

DISTILLERY (Ireland)

Upton Park

7 - 5 (Dare 4, Dick, Hooper [pen], Moore)

17 October 1955

Gregory

Wright

Bond

Johnstone

Allison

Sexton

Hooper

Moore

Dare

Dick

Tucker

MILLWALL

The Den

4 - 2 (Dare 2, Hooper, Moore)

31 October 1955

Gregory

Bond

Cantwell

Sexton

Allison

O'Farrell

Hooper

Andrews

Dare

Moore

Tucker

There was a sparse attendance of just over 4,000 on a very cold evening at the Den when we met Millwall in a friendly.

A comfortable 4-2 win was the outcome of a game in which we held the upper hand from start to finish and there was no doubt this margin could have been greater had our XI extended themselves for the whole of the 90 minutes.

Hooper put us ahead soon after the start and then Dare added two more from the right-winger's openings to put us 3-0 ahead. Unfortunately some feeling crept into the game after this, but it calmed down following the Lions reducing of the arrears with a penalty (although we were of the opinion that an indirect free-kick for obstruction would have been a more just award). However, with a little over a quarter-of-an-hour to go Moore made it 4-1 and five minutes later a header gave Millwall their second and final tally.

With almost the last kick of the match Malcolm Allison sustained an ankle-sprain.

S.K. RAPID (Vienna)

Upton Park

1 - 1 (Dare)

15 November 1955

Gregory

Bond

Cantwell

Sexton

Allison

O'Farrell

Hooper

Andrews

Dare

Dick

Tucker

CRYSTAL PALACE

Selhurst Park

1 - 2 (Dick)

21 November 1955

Att: 4,238

Gregory

Bond

Cantwell

Sexton

Allison

O'Farrell

Hooper

Andrews

Dare (Moore)

Dick

Tucker

KAIERSLAUTERN (Germany)

Upton Park

2 - 4 (Blackburn 2)

11 April 1956

Att: 23,000

The 23,000 who were here on Wednesday evening saw a most entertaining exhibition of soccer, and the reception accorded to the Kaiserslautern team at the end of the 90 minutes indicated the satisfaction of the spectators. The colourfully-clad Germans showed us that the reports of their prowess were well-founded, and their clever touches and skilful play contributed much to the evening's pleasure.

However, it could be fairly said that for a large part of the game the Hammers also put up a splendid show, and several combined movements had our opponents in a defensive tangle there was no question that the two goals were the finest of the game, and Alan Blackburn proved his versatility by cracking the first home with his left foot from 25 yards and agilely heading the second from Mike Grice's cross pass.

Unfortunately the same could not be said for any of Kaiserslautern's four tallies, as in all cases they should have been prevented. However, such are the vagaries of soccer, and as a result we finally succumbed by a 4-2 margin when we ought to have at least been credited with a draw.

The " stars " of the visiting side were very much in the ascendant, and the performances of Eckel, the Walter brothers and Schmitt all had the hallmark of top-class about them. Eckel was described very fittingly by one of our players as " a human dynamo," and his well-taken goal proved what a fine attacking half-back he is; the Walters showed their fraternal understanding and ability to manoeuvre in a confined space; whilst Schmitt, although off the field for ten minutes with an injury, returned to play on the left-wing (and headed a goal) to prove the German national coach's views about his ability to put up international performances at other positions than full-back.